BC Recreation Sites · British Columbia
Gillis Lake West
BC Recreation Sites · British Columbia, Canada
- Sites
- 5
- Hookups
- 5 no hookups
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 3,832 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Nearest town
- Merritt
- Activities
- Angling, Nature study, Icefishing, Camping
About
Closed: Recreation Sites and Trails BC lists this site as closed (Notice: The Gillis Lake West Recreation Site has been closed due to wildfire activity in the area. No public access).
This site is not accommodating to large units. Camping spots are not that large and are more suitable for smaller trailers, truck campers and tents. The on site road is a little narrow to turn around a large rig. The recreation site is a popular location for fishermen, hunters and campers. This treed and shady site is directly adjacent to the north shore of the lake and has a small boat launch.
Road access. Maintained to Recreation Sites and Trails BC standards by a partner or contractor. Facilities on file: boat launch, toilets, picnic tables. First come, first served.
Getting there: From Merritt proceed north up the Coldwater Road until the small community of Kingsvale. Turn right and proceed over the bridge keeping to the left once you cross it. This is the via Murray Lake Forest Service Road. The recreation site is located at 6.3 km. When you see the lake drive a little further where you will find the entrance. This requires a very sharp turn to the left so if you proceed about a kilometre further you can turn your rig around and then proceed directly onto the camp site road. Not much room to turn around a truck and large camper once you are in the campsite area.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 22° | -14° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 32° | 19° | -14° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 24° | 3° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 42° | 28° | 19° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 54° | 37° | 27° | 78° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 59° | 41° | 32° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 72° | 49° | 40° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 51° | 43° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 62° | 45° | 33° | 80° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 46° | 34° | 27° | 69° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 36° | 27° | 10° | 51° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 24° | -15° | 44° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Coldwater River · BC Recreation Sites · 4 mi
- Lily Lake · BC Recreation Sites · 7 mi · 3 sites
- Murray Lake North · BC Recreation Sites · 9 mi · 9 sites
- Silver Lake · BC Recreation Sites · 9 mi · 2 sites
- Murray Lake South · BC Recreation Sites · 10 mi · 3 sites
All public campgrounds in British Columbia · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-10. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.